Apparatus for laboratory investigations



3 Sheets-Sheet l July 24, 1951 A. CHEDIAK 2,561,339

APPARATUS FOR LABORATORY INVESTIGATIONS Filed Jan. l0, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 AT Tok/Vex July 24, 1951 A. cHEDlAK v 2,561,339

APPARATUS FOR LABORATORY INVESTIGATIONS Filed Jan. 1o, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 5.

ATTORNEY Patented July 24, 1951 UNITED'A STATES PATENT y OFFIGEJ APPARATUS FOR LABORATORY' INVE STIGATION'Sf AlejandrolChediak, Habana,v Cuba,-

Application January 10, 1944, Serial No. 517,734'- 7Claims: (01.23-253) This invention is directed to an apparatus; for diagnostic or other investigations incident more particularly; but not limited, to microscopic determination in laboratory tests.

The reactions for the diagnosis of syphilis; as in the Wassermann test, that is, the reaction of the'deviationv of thecomplement, or in the tests under Kahn, Meinicke, Hinton, Kline, Mazzini, and others, involving thee-reaction of the precipitation or flocculation, reuuire'the use of` several centimeters of blood, of which only the -seruml is utilized,l requiring vthe puncture of a vein, andvfurther' requiring that the` blood sampleI be-maintained in liquid' state,A since"v the sang-uineous'serum is to'be acted on. The-applicant has discoveredand perfecteda'process now well known-to the scienticworld for'effecting the diagnostic investigationy particularly-H of syphilis, requiring just one drop of blood; which maybeobtained from the lobe of'the earor a finger tip, the drop' ofblood beingl allovved to dry, and when required for investigation; adding thereto a4 required proportion of a-known-solu tionl and other reagents; if necessary.

TheA presentL invention is more' particularly concerned with the production` of an apparatusA for particularly carrying-out the' diagnostic investigation under the process-of procedure devisedby theapplicant, in the use'of which the extraction of any appreciable quantityv of'v the patients blood is avoided, and the necessity of the use of test tubes, capillary tubes, ampoules',l andother apparatus required in other-known tests is completely avoided.

The inventionl has forits primary object the' production of arelatively small receiver in which a-drop-'of 'blood from oneor fromeach of several diierent patients-maybe depositedv and` maintained protectedand completely segregated'until required for investigation, and' in'y which'- the variousrand 'necessary reagents maybe severally introduced i and mixed to bring thebloodto the' required condition at the-timel of the' investigation;

AA principal object vof the invention `is wthe' production loi" 'a receiverl formed with al plurality of completely .segregated saucer-like cavities; independently" receptive of va dropofblc'iodk for test, thereby permitting the accumulation of V(samples. from several patients fin: successivev order fory diagnostic testing at a later period in a more or less continuous operation, to avoid the trouble and; delay in obtaining and' testing a blood sample of a single patient as a single operation.

A further objectief theinventionisthe pro,

2. vision of cooperativeauxiliaries lfor use; rwitli-l the receiver4 proper, byv means of which the= blood samples may be protected and maintained" against contamination until requiredfor use Av further object is the provision'of Aanauxiliary which may be '-usedto coverand protect' the vmarterial to be tested, which auxiliaryl mayfbeetrans'- parent orwith'transparent areas toexpose the material, and which maybe suitablymarked'in each exposure area/1 to4 selectively identifyv eachI test-material;-y

Tlie invention isl shown inf the' accompanyingdrawingsy by vvayv of illustration of a serviceable apparatus, in' whichy drawings-'- Figure-1 is'v aperspective view of" one form of receiver which is` transparent;

FigureV 2 is a' perspective'view of a transparent sheet" for use Withy the receiver.V

Fig-ure f 3 -is' alperspective view of 'atransparent cover plate for 'use` with f the-receiver Figure'i is' a perspectivetview-of a-specimen' and protectorplate;v

receiver cup.

Figure "6 is a plan, partly broken away`,' ,ofthe completedv receiver-'of the form shown in' Fig ure-1.

Figure '7` isa section "on Vline 1-l' of Figure l6l Figure 8 is a perspective view of a' modified. form` of receiverl having a single bodyportion.

Figure 9' is 'a' transverse section of aA further form of"receiverhavingjan opaque body'.

Figure 10 isa similar `viewr of thev form `of receiver shown' in Fig'. 9 v withthe 'specimen plate-2` Figure `11` is a sectional viewof aslightlSr modi'-` ed form of receiver:

Figure' 12 isy a transverse section ofthe receiver shown in Fig; 82 l Figure 13 is a plan offfa protector plateshowing the material to be investigatediin'one cavity.y

Figures 14 and 15 showin plan the modified` formsof protector plates andV receiverv cupi of Figures 4 and.5"resp,ectively, the material lto. be`

investigated' being shownin place therein.

FgureslG, 17, 18'and 19are enlargedbroken plan viewssh'owing the receiver in different .con-

ditions of luse, the material to vbe investigatedv being shown in place. in .one cavity,-of.-`eaoh1View..l

Figure 20V isa transverse-.section on line 2lb-2.01 of' Figure.. 17.

Figure 21 is a transverse section on line 2 I-2lf of Figure 19.

While the apparatusEA is particularly'v designed.

forV carrying out. the procedure of diagnostic investigation of the process f developed by. ap.A

plicant and previously referred to, it is to be understood that such apparatus is of value in other investigations and that any and all such uses are contemplated as within the spirit and scope of the invention.

The receiver is made in two hingedly-connected parts, a base section I and a cover section `2, which may be of transparent or opaque material. In the form of receiver shown in Fig. 1, the parts are transparent, as shown in Fig. '7, to permit observation therethrough. The

base section is formed with a plurality of material receiving cavities or cup-like receptacles 3, hereinafter termed cups, preferably of circular outline and of shallow depression. These cups which may be in any desired number are preferably arranged in uniform groups in slightly depressed areas 4 of the base. As best shown in Fig. 7, recesses are formed in the bottom of the base I beneath the cups 3 to space the bottoms of the cups above the base bottom for protective purposes. The cover section 2 is formedl with through openings 5, arranged when the cover is. closed to align respectively with and render visible the contents of the cups 3. The edges of the openings are formed in a particular manner to be laterreferred to.

A thin sheet 6, Figure 2, of transparent material is formed with definite areas '1, defined by colored or other marked margins 8,.which areas I register with the cups 3 of the base I when the sheet 6 is placed thereon. If preferred, and as desired, the area-s may have individual markings to provide a record knowledge of the particular material in the cup 3 exposed through such area, to thus permit the use of the. receiver for a number of test materials from different patients with proper identification of-each. These selective identifications may be any conventional markings and illustrationof such is not deemed to be necessary. In some cases, and in more restricted use of the receiver or for any other reason, individual plates 9, Figure-4, of transparent material, each designed to seat in any one 'of the depressedareas 4 of the .base I and cover the row of cups 3 in that area, may be used. If desired, the sheet 6 or plate 9 may cooperatel with the openings 5 to .form specimen receiving chambers.

` It is further contemplated that, if desired, the base I may be formed of opaque material, and, in place of the cups 3, may be provided with through openings III, Figure 1l, and individual transparent cups I I, Figure 5, adapted to re.-

movably seat in such openings for the reception of the materialto be investigated. In assembly, as shown in Figure 9, the bottoms ofthe cups I I are protectively spaced above the bottom of the ,base I. This type of base may also be provided with depressed areas Il, as shown in Fig. 11, for the reception of the plates 9, as shown in Fig. 10.

.The cover plate 2 on its uppermost surface is provided with edge guides I2, to slidably receive a transparent cover plate I3, Figure 3, through which the material in the cups is completely visible While at the same time secured against contamination or disturbance, .and forming at the same time a damp chamber within the receiver. These damp chambers in the lindividual cup 3 are formed by the sheet 5 or plates 9 when use It is also contemplated to form the apparatus of 'a'single section I4, Figure 12. This section corresponds to the cover section 2 of Figure l,

except that the through openings 5 of that section 2 are now formed as material cups I5, which are protected by the cover plate I3 cooperating with guides I'Z, as in Figure 1.

As previously stated, the material to be investigated-a drop of blood or other extracted material according to the purpose of the test-is placed in a cup of one or the other forms described, and after material from one or several different patients has been received with its protective and cover plates, if used, is closed and may be secured against accidental opening by any conventional holding or latch means I6, Figure 1.. The material, particularly the blood samples, will, or at least may be permitted to dry before opportunity for testing, and will, in testing, require the introduction of desired reagents and the reducing of the mass to a homogeneous more or less uid form for testing. This reduction may, and preferably is, obtained by introducing into the charged cups one or more balls I'I, Figs. 17 and 20, which under appropriate agitation of the receiver in any selected manner, will thoroughly reduce and mingle homogeneously the material in the cup. Before testing, of course, the balls are Withdrawn using appropriate instruments as, for example, magnets if the balls are steel. The cover plate I3 may, of course, be removed during application and use of the balls.

In order that under such agitation with the included balls the material will not be forced over the edge of the cup, the edges of the through openings 5 in the receiver cover 2 are of transverse V-form as at I8Figures 1 andv9, or of downwardly divergent form, as at I9 in Figure l1. The surface of the edge of the opening is thus inclined in both forms against the overflow of the material while being mixed in the use ofthe balls.

This apparatus, besides being applicable to the examination and investigation in the diagnosis of syphilis, is also suitable for any class of investigations ror examinations of the blood, sputum, serum, and other similar uses, besides being of utility for any reaction in which agglutination or precipitation is concerned, with the advantage that since it can be utilized as damp chamber not only by employing the complete apparatus but also by making use of `its lower plate'by simply covering it with a lamina, an indefinite length of time is thereby provided for effecting the observation.

This new apparatus may be applied also with the use of a single drop of blood made homogeneous for determining easily the sanguineous group by using spherules, since the quantity of blood which each spherule carries, and which served the purpose of bringing about the -homogeneity of the blood, is suiicient whenl mixed with classifying serums to make possible the determination of the sanguineous group, the investigation of which may be effected by using the cavities of the lower plate or performed in the lamina intercalated between the two principal plates of the apparatus; Another important application of the apparaf tus is that it makes possible the carrying out of numerous reactions and investigations at the same time, by making use of each of the cavities.

of the apparatus for different investigations and intercalating the lamina or laminae which contain the sample of dry blood, above all,.by the method of Chediak Microreaction, by means of which a large number of analyses may be made in a very short space of time, whereas by other means the making of such analyses would in- Volve considerable delay.

What I claim is:

1. A laboratory apparatus comprising a flat body portion provided with means forming a plurality of separated cup-like receptacles for the reception of samples, the bottoms of said receptacles being transparent and the under surface of said bottoms being positioned above the bottom plane of said body portion, a cover plate removably mounted on the top of said body portion to cover said receptacles, and means attached to said body portion for holding said cover plate in said receptacle covering position.

2. A laboratory apparatus comprising a pair of plates adapted to be rigidly connected in superposed relation to cooperatively form a body portion, the upper of said plates comprising a plurality of through openings each having a thin peripheral edge, the lower of said plates being provided with means forming a plurality of separated receptacles for the reception of samples and respectively registering with said openings when said plates are superposed, the bottoms of said receptacles being transparent and the under surface of said bottoms being positioned above the bottom plane of said lower plate, and a cover plate removably mounted on the top of said upper plate for covering said openings.

3. A laboratory apparatus comprising a pair of plates adapted to be rigidly connected in superposed relation to cooperatively form a body portion, the upper of said plates comprising a plurality of through openings each having a thin peripheral edge, the lower of said plates having a shallow recess in its upper surface and being provided with means forming within said recess a plurality of separated receptacles for the reception of samples and respectively registering with said openings w-hen said plates are superposed, the bottoms of said receptacles being transparent and the under surface of sai-d bottoms being positioned above the bottom plane of said lower plate, a transparent plate removably mounted in said recess to cover said receptacles, and a transparent cover plate removably mounted on the top of said upper plate for covering said openings.

4. A laboratory apparatus comprising a pair of plates adapted to be rigidly connected in superposed relation to cooperatively form a body portion, the upper of said plates comprising a plurality of through openings each having a thin peripheral edge, the lower of said plates being provided with means forming a plurality of separated receptacles for the reception of samples and respectively registering with said openings when said plates are superposed, the bottoms of said receptacles being transparent and the under surface of said bottoms being positioned above the bottom plane of said lower plate, a thin transparent sheet removably sandwiched between said plates and having areas marked thereon to correspond to and register with said openings and receptacles, and a transparent cover plate removably mounted on the top of said upper plate for covering said openings.

5. A laboratory apparatus comprising a pair of plates adapted to be rigidly connected in superposed relation to cooperatively form a body portion, the upper of said plates comprising a plurality of through openings each having a thin peripheral edge, the lower of said plates having a plurality of shallow recesses in its upper surface and being provided with means forming within said recesses a plurality of separated receptacles for the reception of samples and respectively registering with said openings when said plates are superposed, a transparent plate removably mounted in each of said recesses to cover said receptacles, the bottoms of said receptacles being transparent and the under surface of said bottoms being positioned above the bottom plane of said lower plate, a thin transparent sheet removably sandwiched between said plates and having areas marked thereon to correspond to and register with said openings and receptacles, and a transparent cover plate removably mounted on the top of said upper plate for covering said openings.

6. A laboratory apparatus comprising a pair of transparent plates adapted to be rigidly connected in superposed relation to cooperatively form a body portion, a plurality of cup-like receptacles formed in the upper surface of the lower of said plates, the bottom of said lower plate being recessed beneath said receptacles to space the under surface of the bottoms of said receptacles above the bottom of said lower plate, the upper of said plates having a plurality of through openings corresponding to and registering with said receptacles when said plates are superposed, said openings each having a thin inner peripheral edge, and a transparent cover plate removably mounted on the top of said upper plate for covering said openings.

7. A laboratory apparatus comprising a pair of plates adapted to be rigidly connected in superposed relation to cooperatively form a body portion, a plurality of registering through openings in said plates, a transparent cup-like receptacle mounted in each of said openings in the lower of said plates, the under surface of the bottoms of said receptacles being spaced above the bottom of said lower plate to prevent abrasion and clouding thereof, the openings in the upper of said plates each having a thin inner peripheral edge, and a transparent cover plate removably mounted on the top of said upper plate for covering said openings.

ALEJANDRO CHEDIAK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 10,754 Ball Apr. 11, 1854 426,943 Linn et al s- Apr. 29, 1890 529,766 Wheeler Nov. 27, 1894 1,153,185 Allen Sept. 14, 1915 1,159,206 Garhart Nov. 2, 1915 1,775,134 Malsbury Sept. 9, 1930 1,839,573 Merrick Jan. 5, 1932 1,975,245 Zackheim Oct. 2, 1934 2,194,131 Terry Mar. 19, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 28,155 Great Britain Aug. 25, 1910 

